Stencil receiver



Sept. 17, 1929. H |=l ELLIOTT 1,728,200

STENCIL RECEIVER Filed Jan. 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fg/ 1 `Q Z ---r---m-"n--kffl 32 /Z o /f l/ Ji A five/@717020.

Patented Sept. 17, 1929 OFFICE HARMON P. ELLIOTT, 0F WATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS STENCIL RECEIVER Application led January 25. 1&2?.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 160.872 tiled January 13, 1927.

, rlliis invention relates to stencil printing machines and has particular relation to a stencil receiver into which the stencils are adapted to fall in successive order from the stencil track after they have been utilizet. in the stencil p inting machine.

The usual stencil receiver includes a vertical guideway having a platform therein adapted to support the stencils in a ver tical pile. The platform is usually supported on springs which are adapted to yield in proportion to the number of stencils on the platform whereby to hold the uppermost stencil of the pile always approximately in the same position beneath the track. The pile is' supported laterally by engagement with the side walls of the receiver` There is considerable friction be* tween the stencils and the side walls and the friction interferes with the proper ac` tion of the platform supporting springs so that the platform is held from assuming a position proportioned to the number of stencils thereon, thus limiting` the number of stencils that the receiver can hold and interfering with the proper functioning of the receiver.

1t is an object of this invention to provide a stencil receiver and a movable plattform therefor adapted to hold a vertical pile of stencils and to move downwardly in proportion to the number of stencils in the pile with supporting means to hold the stencils of the pile free from frictional engagement with the stationary parts of the receiver, thus permitting free and unimpeded movement of the platform and the stencil pile thereon received.

A further object is the provision of a yieldinglysupported plattform having lateral supporting means 'for 'the stencil pile movable with the platform.

A yet further object et' the invention is generally to improve the construction of stencil receivers.

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional elevation Serial No. 13,524.

through a stencil receiver embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front View of the stencil receiver of Fig. l partially broken away.

F 8 is a plan view of the stencil receiver.

Fig. 4 is a section along line 4 4 of Fig. l.

F 5 is a section along line 5 5 of Fig. 1, the stencils being omitted.

Fig. G is an end elevation of the frame of a stencil printing machine with the stencil holder in upright position thereon and also illustrating the tilted position of the stencil receiver.

Fig. 7 is a detailed plan view of the end of the stencil track and illustrating particularly the lock for the stencil receiver.

Fig. G illustrates the stencil receiver 10 embodying the invention attached to the frame 12 of a stencil printing machine in upright position beneath the stencil tracks 1l and in position to receive stencils discharged in successive order from said track. The stencil receiver comprises, see particularly Figs. l and f1, a pair of opposed parallel side plates 1G and 18 having inwardlydirected rear sections 2O which are secured at their lower ends to a hinge-member 22. Said hingeanember is pivotally connected with a bracket 24 fixed to the lower part of the frame of the stencil printing machine by means of which the stencil receiver may be tilted into the inclined position shown in dotted line Fig. G for the purpose of removing stencils therefrom. Said rear sections comprise the rear wall of the receiver and are provided with opposed parallel lips 26 which cooperate to form a track for the stencil platform.

A relatively narrow front plate 28 is disposed in front of and in parallel relation with the rear wall and between and free from connection with the side walls 16 and 18 thereof. Said front plate has a retlexed foot. 8O which is fixed to the hinged member 22 over the retlexed sections 20. The upper end oit' said front plate is free from connections with the receiver. The upper ends of said side plates 1G and 18 are tixed to the lower end of a U-shaped frame 32, the upper end of which frame is terminated immediately beneath the stencil track and in line with the front plate 28.

The stencils are adapted to be supported in superimposed order in a vertical pile within the receiver upon a platform coinprising a flat plate 3st which is adapted for vertical movement within said receiver. Said` platform is free from contact with the side walls of the receiver and is carried by a guide frame which includes a vertical supporting rod 36 which has cross bars 38 and 40 fixed to its lower and upper ends respectively. Said cross bars are provided with aligned grooves in their opposite ends which engage and slide upon the track 26 thereby to guide the stencil supporting platform for vertical movement.

The weight of the platform and the weight of the stencils thereon is adapted to be counterbalanced by a spring 4t2 disposed eX- ternally of the stencil receiver at the lower end thereof and having its lower end connected to the hinge member 22. The upper end of said spring is connected with the middle portion of a transversely extended equalizing bar 14. Flexible cords or cables 46 are attached t0 the opposite ends of said equalizing bar le and extend upwardly and pass about groove pulleys 48 located adjacent the opposite side walls 16 and 18 and fixed on a shaft 50 journalled in the U-` shaped frame 32 of the stencil receiver. The ends of said flexible cables are extended downwardly within the stencil receiver and in .parallel relation with and spaced from the rear wall 20 thereof and are liXed to the stencil supporting platform 34 at the opposite rear corners thereof as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 1. Said cables 4G are adapted to forin a lateral support for the vertical pile of stencils a, on the platform 34 and the platform is inclined slightly toward said cables as illustrated in Fig. 1 whereby to ensure that the stencils will assume a position in the pile with their rear edges disposed against the cords and with their front edges clear of the front plate 28,

Means are provided to cause the stencils to assume a. position on the platform and in the pile with their ends free from contact with 'the side plates 16 and 18 of the stencil receiver. Said means comprise guide plates 52 and 54 which plates are secured to the sides of the U-shaped frame 32 and to said side plates 16 and 18 respectively iinmediately at the entrance of the stencil receiver. Said side plates are spaced apart approximately the length of a stencil and serve to locate the stencils centrally within the holder so that they will fall through the entrance and assumea position on the pile free from contact with the side walls of the receiver. As thus arranged,V the pile of stencils on the stencil supporting platform is supported entirely by the platform and the cables 4:6 and is otherwise free from engagement with any fixed part of the stencil receiver. The stencil pile is thus free from unusual and un certain frictional restraint and the platform is thus free to assume a position Within the stencil receiver proportionate to the number of stencils thereon7 whereby always to maintain the uppermost stencil of the pile at an approximately constant distance below the entrance of the receiver.

The stencil receiver thus described is capable of holding a considerably larger number of stencils than has been the case lieretof-ore since the stencils are free from frictional engagementwith the sides of the holder so that the action of the spring 42 is uniinpeded.

The stencil receiver is held normally in upright position by a pair of opposed spring lingers which are secured to and enten "eai'wardlv from the frame 32 and i L 'l io engage between them a pin f! iicd depcndingly by the frame of the The arrangement and disposition pin and 'lingers is such that the re- Lely beneath the stencil tinck and is pi ycntcd from rearward nioven beyond said position.

A. resiient hook member G0 is secured to the frame of the machine and serves to enn gage the front edge of the plate 54 whereby to pieve" t unintentional forward oi' tilting` movement of the receiver. The receiver may be released for tilting movement by spanning said hoot: member away from envase .ont with said plate Said receiv held in its forwardly tilted position by a 'f ible chain (Si). and an interposed helical spring G4 connected between the frame and the receiver.

l claim: 1. A stencil receiver having a springsupported vertically movable platform adapted to support a vertical pile of stencils thereon and means connected with said platform providing a lateral support for the stencil pile.

2. i-i ,stencil receiver having a verticallymovable spring-supported platform adapted vto supporta vertical pile of stencils, ineens to guide stencils to fall onto the top of the stencil aile in alignment with the pile, said guiding ineens being free from contact with th'e pile, and mean onnectcd with said platform providing a lateral support for the pile,

3. A stencil receiver coiiiprisini,f vertical side walls and an entrance at the top thereof through which stencils are adapted to fall in success ve order, a vertically movable spring-siipported platforn'i disposed within said receptacle beneath the entrance and adapted to receive and support the stencils in a vertical pile and lateral supportingl means for the stencil pile movable with said platform.

si. A stencil receiver comprising vertical side walls and an entrance at the top thereof through which stencils are adapted to fall in successive order, a vertically-movable spring-supported platform disposed within said receptacle beneath the entrance and adapted to receive and support the stencils in a vertical pile, means to guide the stencils to assume a position on said platform free from engagement with the side walls of said receptacle, said guiding means being free from engagement with the stencil pile, and lateral supporting means for the stencil pile characterized by being movable with said platform.

5. A stencil receiver comprising a receptacle having vertical side walls and an entrance at the top thereof through which stencils are adapted to pass in successive order into said receptacle, a spring-supported platform vertically-movable within said receptacle and adapted to support the stencils in a vertical pile thereon, said platform adapted to assume a position within said receptacle determined by the number of stencils thereon, whereby to support the pile with the uppermost stencil thereof at an approximately constant position beneath said entrance, said receptacle characterized by having its transverse dimensions greater than those of the stencil pile whereby said stencil pile may be free from contact with t-he side walls of said receptacle, and lateral support-ing .means for the stencil pile connected and movable with said platform.

6. In a stencil receiver, a vertically-movable platform adapted to support a vertical pile of stencils thereon, supportingI means for said platform including means to counterbalance the weight of said platform and the stencils and to support said platform yieldably in various positions which are proportional to the number of stencils in the pile thereon, and lateral supporting means for the stencil pile connected with and upstanding above said platform.` said platform beingl inclined toward said supportingmeans.

7. In a stencil receiver, a vertically-movable platform adapted to support a vertical pile of stencils thereon, supporting meansI for said platform including means to counterbalance the weicht of said platform and the stencils and to support said platform yieldably in various positions which are proportional to the number of stencils in the pile thereon, and lateral supporting means for the stencil pile connected with and upstanding above said platform, said supporting means also comprising` supporting means for said platforni` said supportingl means beine` connected with said counterbalancing means.

8. In a stencil receiver, a vertically-movable platform adapted to support a vertical pile of stencils thereon, lateral supporting means for the stencil pile connected with and upsta-nding above said platform, said platform characterized by being inclined toward said supporting means.

9. In a stencil receiver, a vcrtically-movable platform adapted to support a vertical pile of stencils thereon` lateral supporting means for the stencil pile connected with and upstanding above said platform, said platform characterized by being inclined toward said supporting means and said supporting means also constituting supporting means for said platform.

l0. A stencil receiver having a verticallymovable platform adapted to support a vertical pile of stencils thereon, supporting means for said platform including a spring, and a member connected with said spring and having' a connection with said platform at one side thereof and movable with said platform. said member constituting a lateral support for the stencil pile on said platform.

ll. A stencil receiver including a verti- *ally-movable platform adapted to support vertical pile of stencils thereon, and supporting means for said platform including a spring', and a flexible cable connected with said spring and having` a connection with said platform at one side thereof and eX- tended upwardly above and movable with said platform.

l2. il stencil receiver including a vertically-movable platform adapted to support a vertical pile of stencils thereon, and supporting means for said platform includinga spring, and a flexible cable connected with said spring and having a connection with said platform at one side thereof and eX- tended upwardly above and movable with said platform and said cable constituting a lateral support for the stencil pile.

13. A stencil receiver having an entrance at the top and spaced vertical side walls below said entrance, a platform adapted to support a vertical pile of stencils verticallymovable within said receiver, and supporting means for said platform coniprising a tensile springl located externally of said receiver below the top thereof. a pair of pulleys journalled on said receiver at the top thereof adjacent said side walls, and a pair of flexible cables connected with said spring and passed upwardly and over said pulleys and thence downwardly within said receiver and having connections with said platform at one side thereof, said cables constituting a lateral support for the stencil pile ou said platform.

14. A stencil receiver having un ent-rance at the top and spaced vertical side walls below said entrance, a platform adapted to support a vertical pile of scncils verticallymovable within said receiver, and supportlil CAD

ing means for said plattform comprising a tensile spring located externally of said receiver below the top thei'eot7 a pair of pulleys journalled on said receiver at the ton thereof adjacent said side walls, and a pair of flexible cables connected with said spring and passed upwardly and over :aid pulleys and thence downwardly within said receiver and having connections with said platform at one side thereof, said cables constituting a lateral support for the stencil pile on said platform and said platform being inclined toward said cables.

A stencil receiver having spaced vertical side walls and an entrance at the top thereof, a platform vertically movable within said receiver adapted to support a vertical pile of stencils, and supporting means for said platform comprising a tensile spring located externally of said receiver' below the top thereof, a pair of pulleys journalled to said receiver at the top thereof and adjacent said side walls, a pair of 'tlexible cables co nected with said spriiig and passed upwardly and over said pulleys and thence downwardly within said receiver and having connections with said platform at one side thereof, said cables constituting a lateral support for the stencil pile on said platte ir platform being inclined toufard said cables, and guiding means located at said receiverentrance arranged to guide stencils to pass through said entrance and lodge on the stencil pile free from contact with the side walls of said receiver.

16. stencil receiver having spaced vertical walls and a stencil entrance at the top thereof, means providing a vertical guide track at one wall thereof, a guide 'trame vertically movable in guide trac.:9 a jilatform carried by said frame and extended into the stencil space in said receiver and adapted to support a vertical pile of stencils thereon, supporting means for said platform including a tensile spring` disposed er;- ternally of said receiver below the top thereof and adjacent said guide track. spaced pulleys journalled on said receiver at the top of said guide track and adjacent said entrance, and a pair of flexible cables connected with said spring and extended upwardly externally of said. receiver and about said pulleys and thence downwardly within sai-Tl receiver and having connections with said stencil supporting platform at one side thereof.

17. A stencil receiver having an open top and spaced vertical side walls formed with opposed inwardly-directed end sections providing a rear wall, said end sections having opposed parallel vertically-extended edges providing a guide track, a guiee frame vertically-movable on said tracln a stencil platform disposed within and spaced from said side walls of said receiver and connected messo@ with said guide frame, supporting means for said platform including a tensile spring disposed eirternally of said receiver below the top thereof and adjacent said guide tracln pulleys journalled on said receiver at the top there-oli adjacent said side walls, and 'flexible cables connected. with said spring and extended upwardly and about said pulleys and thence downward y within said receiver and having connections with said platform at one side thereof. raid platform being inclined toward said cables, and said cables constituting a lateral support for the pile ot stencilf: on said platform.

it, il.. stencil receiver ha o' an open top and spaced vertical side walls formed with inwardly directed end sections providing a rear wall, said end sections having spaced opposed vertically-extended parallel edges providing a guide traclr, a `guide frame vertically movable on said track, a stencil platt rm disposed within said receiver and spaced from sa side plates and having a connection with said guide frame. supporting means for said platform including a tensite spring disposed externally and at the lower pm tion of said receiver and adjacent cuide ek. pulleys journalled on said the top thereof adjacent said side ible cables connected with said spring and extended upwardly and about said pulleys and thence downwardly within said receiver and having connections with said platform at one side thereoi', said platform being inclined toward said cables, and said cables constituting a lateral support for 4he pile of stencils on said platform, and stencil-centering me: is located at the open top of said receiver arranged to guide sten-- cils to pass through said open top and to lodge on the stencil pile 'tree from engagen'ient with the side walls of said receiver., said centering means being free from enga gement with the stecil pile.

19. il stencil holder having an entrance at the top, parallel side and rear walls and a front wall which is free from connection with and is spaced from said side walls at the sides and also at the topthcreof and lies midway between said side walls and is substantially narrower' than the space between said side walls. y

ln testimony whereof` l name to this specilication,

HARMON l). 'lLLlOTT have signed my 

